Thanks to you, KEXP’s programming continued to move forward and expand the organization's role in the community. In 2017, that progress took many forms—from the creation of initiatives like the Mastering the Hustle artist workshops, Music Heals days on-air, and Radio Week to the implementation of new technology in our live room.
The Music Heals series grew out of Morning Show host John Richard’s “Death and Music” evenings and annual “Mom Show.” These full days of programming are dedicated to music’s power to lift our spirits and heal our souls in the face of life’s challenges. On Music Heals days, listeners share stories through emails and phone calls while DJs respond with music, interviews, and their own experiences.
In February 2017, KEXP presented Music Heals: Cancer in collaboration with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy Center. Music Heals: Mental Health, the second in the series, called attention to the public health crisis surrounding depression and anxiety. DJs received hundreds of emails during the course of each on-air day—moving stories that speak to the power of music, reminding us we are not alone.
“Upholding the music of the Pacific Northwest to enrich and strengthen our region” is one of KEXP’s core commitments. In support of this, KEXP, Upstream Music Fest + Summit, MoPOP, and The Recording Academy have partnered to offer Mastering the Hustle, a series of ongoing workshops to help emerging artists navigate the music industry, especially those interested in pursuing music at a professional level.
2017’s six sessions featured speakers from across the music industry. Topics included “Building Your Music Brand,” “Creating & Booking Shows,” “Booking Festivals,” and others. There were over 1200 attendees and the workshops are archived so emerging artists worldwide can access the content.
Radio is a medium for people to enjoy together. Since the earliest days of broadcasting, stations, DJs, and programs have served as focal points for building community. To honor radio’s legacy, KEXP celebrated Radio Week with programming dedicated to beloved radio stations no longer on the dial. Each show spotlighted a different station or DJ who helped establish the independent radio landscape.
As the week closed, KEXP and Brown Paper Tickets presented a Community Radio Volunteer Fair, an afternoon of recruitment for community and low-power FM stations. Along with the week’s programming, the fair highlighted KEXP’s ongoing support of radio as a medium of human connection. Throughout, listeners shared their thoughts about the value of Radio Week as a celebration of the past with an eye to tomorrow.
On January 10th, Car Seat Headrest played the first public in-studio performance to feature the new lighting installation in KEXP’s Live Room created and donated by Microsoft. 2,000 individual multicolor LED lights on 180 strands now surround the performance space. KEXP’s video production team controls the lighting using custom software designed for KEXP. Artists' movements can even drive the motion of the lights.
The new lights are an homage to the Christmas lights that hung in KEXP’s original live room. They also create a brand-new immersive environment for the diverse range of acts that play KEXP and an instantly-recognizable look for in-studio performances. These lights served as the backdrop for over 200 performances in 2017, with many more to come.